Flashlight



Aug. 10, 1937. M. D. JuDKlNs 2,089,897

' FLASHLIGHT Filed oct. 19, 1956 mgm Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to flashlights and has for an object to provide a flashlight that may be worn on the backs of the first two or more ngers and will present its switch in reach of the thumb so that the flashlight can be switched on and olf by the thumb of the same hand carrying the flashlight while both hands of the user will be free for use otherwise.

With the above and other objects in view lo the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended 15 claims without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a flashlight constructed in accordance with the invention the same being applied to a hand.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the flashlight showing the switch as disposed on a bracket extending from the casing so as to be within convenient reach of the operators thumb when the fingers are inserted in the securing strap.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Figure l with the battery cells removed.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the battery cells removed.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4 and showing the battery cells in dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, I designates the flashlight casing the same having a removable cover II which is provided on the inner face with strips I2 and I3 of insulation to which a spring metal electrical conductor I4 is riveted, as shown at I5 in Figure 5. The conductor connects the zinc pole of one battery I6 to the carbon pole of a companion battery cell I1 and also hol-ds these cells rigid against wobbling in the casing.

The end wall I8 of the flashlight casing opposite the cover is provided on the inner face with a strip I9 of insulation which is riveted as shown at 20 in Figure to the wall and is provided on one end with a slot 2l in which is received the short leg 22 of an L-shaped metal switch 23, the long leg 24 of which is slidably received in channeled guide flanges 25 secured to the side wall 26. The switch button 2l is mounted on a hollow bracket 55 arm 28 which forms a continuation of. the wall 26 and which disposes the switch button spaced outward from the back wall 29 of the flashlight casing. The switch button is rigidly secured to a lever 30 which is in turn rigidly secured to the long legs of the L-shaped switch and projects at a right angle to said long leg so that upon movement of the switch button in a direction transversely of the bracket arm 28 the L-shaped switch will be moved longitudinally of the flashlight casing and the short leg 22 of the switch will be moved into and out of the slot 2I of the insulating strip I9.

A tubular holder 3| is secured to the back wall 29 of the flashlight casing and is provided with a curved extremity 32 which is connected at the end to the end of the hollow bracket arm 28 and reinforces the bracket arm against displacement. A strap 33 is trained through the holder and the ends of the strap are connected by a buckle 34. When the strap is passed around the index and the second linger of the hand it will be observed that the bracket arm 28 disposes the switch button 21 upon the side of the index finger within convenient reach of the thumb so that the operator may manipulate the switch button by his thumb and yet will have both hands free at all times for other work.

The front wall 35 of the flashlight casing is provided with a metal reflector 36 which is rigidly secured at the rim in an opening in the front wall and is provided with a portion of a screw thread 31 to engage the threaded terminal 38 of a conventional flashlight bulb 39.

'Ihe center terminal of the bulb engages with a metal leaf spring connector 40 which is provided with a laterally directed foot 4 I best shown in Figure 4, the foot being integrally connected with a metal contact 42 against which the carbon pole of the cell I6 is engaged, as best shown in Figure 5.

The screw terminal 38 of the bulb is grounded upon the flashlight casing and also the L-shaped switch 23 is grounded upon the flashlight casing by sliding contact therewith. Consequently when the button 29 is moved to operative position a circuit may be traced from the battery I1, connector I4, battery I6, contact 42, spring connector 40, center contact of the bulb, screw contact 38 of the bulb, casing Ill, and back to the battery through the short leg 22 of the L-shaped switch.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight, a casing, a bracket extending from the casing, a holder secured to the casing and having a curved end secured to the end of the bracket and reinforcing the bracket, a ashlight bulb carried by the casing, electrical connections in the casing for connecting flashlight batteries to the bulb, a switch in the casing, a lever slidably carried by said bracket and connected to said switch, a button for the switch carried by said lever, and a strap carried by the holder and adapted to encircle ngers of an operators hand, said bracket being adapted to ex tend along the side of one of the fingers and position said button within reach of the operators thumb when the casing is strapped tothe fingers.

2. A flashlight comprising a casing, insulatedV electrical connections in the casing for a ashlight bulb, said casing being adapted to hold a ashlight battery, a switch in the casing, a bracket arm forming an extension of one of the walls of the casing, a switch button carried by said bracket arm and spaced by the bracket arrn from the casing, a slide carried by they bracket arm and connected to the switch and to the button for operating the switch, and a strap connected to the casing and adapted to encircle lingers of the operators hand and strap the casing to the backs of the fingers, said bracket arm disposing said button along the side of the index nger of. the wearers hand within convenient reach of the thumb whereby ther flashlight can be switched on and 01T by the thumb of the same hand carrying the flashlight.

MARION D. JUDKINS. 

